Possessives show ownership. Forming possessives is a complex issue. If you follow the rules below, this issue will be less confusing.

  1. Animate objects
    Form the possessive only on nouns or pronouns that represent living things, celestial bodies, time, distance, or value.
    • Elizabeth's business card (living thing)
    • the plant's leaves (living thing)
    • the moon's light (celestial body)
    • three months' rent (time)
    • a day's journey (distance)
    • a penny's worth (value)
    Do not form the possessive of an inanimate object; use an adjective or an "of" phrase.
    • The desk drawer is stuck. OR The drawer of the desk is stuck.
  2. Nouns
    Form the possessive of most singular common or proper nouns by adding an apostrophe and an –s.
    • student's notebook
    • witness's statement
    • Charles's car
    Exception: Use only an apostrophe to form the possessive of the names Jesus and Moses and other ancient classical names.
    • Moses’ law
    • Jesus’ followers
    • Achilles’ heel
    • Xerses’ army
    Exception: Use only an apostrophe in the following expressions.
    • for goodness' sake
    • for appearance' sake
    • for convenience' sake
  3. Plural nouns not ending in s
    Form the possessive of plural nouns that do not end in an –s or an –s sound by adding an apostrophe and an –s.  Form the possessive of plural nouns that end in an –s or an –s sound by adding only the apostrophe.
    • children's books
    • the people's princess
    • men's clothing
    • students' lounge
    • my two brothers' cars
    • teachers' union
  4. Make a word plural
    To make a word plural and possessive, form the plural first, then add an apostrophe.
    • Incorrect: the Rains house or the Rain’s house
    • Correct: the Rainses’ house
    • Incorrect: the Gomez car or the Gomez’s car
    • Correct: the Gomezes’ car
  5. Show joint ownership
    To show joint ownership, form the possessive on the last word; to show individual ownership, form the possessive on both words.
    • Joint Ownership: Jon and Kathy's dogs (The dogs belong to both of them.)
    • Individual Ownership: Jon's and Kathy's dogs (Each person owns one or more dogs individually.)
  6. Verb ending in -ing
    Use a possessive noun or pronoun before a verb that ends in –ing.
    • Jill was pleased by Natalie's returning on time.
  7. Compound words of phrases
    With a compound word or phrase, form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and an –s to the last word.
    • my brother–in–law's car
    • chairman of the board's name
  8. Pronouns
    Add an apostrophe and an –s to form the possessive of the pronouns anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, and nobody.
    • Anyone's guess is as good as mine.
    • Somebody's keys were left on the counter.
    Do not use an apostrophe to form the possessive of its, whose, hers, his, ours, yours, or theirs.
    • The dog lost its bone.
    • My car was clean; hers was very dirty.
  9. When ownership is implied
    Use a possessive if ownership is implied, even if the possession itself is not stated in the sentence.
    • We will all meet at Alice's for dinner.
  10. Businesses and organizations
    Businesses, organizations, and educational institutions may or may not use apostrophes with their names to show possession. Follow the organization's format or usage.
    • St. John's College
    • Regents College
  11. Abbreviations
    Use the rules above to form the possessive of abbreviations.
    • The M.D.'s stethoscope
    • Brooks Bros.' sale